GLAAD Spirit Day Concert In Support Of An LGBTQ Media Advocacy Group Raises Over $400,000

Last night (Oct. 17), Justin Tranter, a songwriter and board member of the LGBTQ advocacy group GLAAD put the focus on the unsung LGBTQ heroes in the music industry during his GLAAD Spirit Day concert at The Sayer’s Club in Hollywood, California. GLAAD Spirit Day is an annual LGBTQ awareness day observed on the third Thursday in October. It was started in 2010 by Canadian teenager Brittany McMillan, it was initially created the event in response to a rash of widely publicized bullying-related suicides of gay school students in 2010, including that of Tyler Clementi. Promoted by GLAAD, observers wear the color purple as a visible sign of support for LGBTQ youth and against bullying during National Bullying Prevention Month, as well as to honor LGBTQ victims of suicide. The showcase which was showcase to highlight two other songwriters: Sarah Aarons and Cameron Forbes, raised over $400,000 for the advocacy group and its anti bullying campaign. The showcase was attended by was the likes of other musicians and bands such as Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds, Nick Jonas, Darren Criss and Shea Diamond. Two of the night’s biggest donors were Nick Jonas and Imagine Dragons lead singer Dan Reynolds, who each pledged $50,000 to the organization. Other donors at the GLAAD event included Ariadne Getty and her son designer August Getty (who donated over $90,000), Darren Criss and Derek Hough. Other donors at the GLAAD event included Ariadne Getty and her son designer August Getty (who donated over $90,000), Darren Criss and Derek Hough.